The Controltec division of steute has unveiled an expanded range of wireless foot switches, introducing a model tailored for heavy-duty settings like welding stations.
These environments effectively employ wireless foot switches, as traditional cabled versions often suffer from damage caused by weld spatter and pose tripping hazards during operations.
Enhanced protective features
Conventional foot switches fall short in such demanding circumstances because their protective shields are inadequate for operators wearing reinforced safety shoes, which are essential for protection from weld spatter.
To address this, steute has developed a foot switch with a robust and significantly enlarged protective shield crafted from powder-coated steel, specifically for heavy-duty use.
Innovative wireless technology
The sWave wireless technology utilised enables touch over distances up to 45 metres indoors
This shield, securely attached to the wireless foot switch, offers ample space for comfortable pedal operation even with reinforced footwear. Additionally, it prevents unintentional pedal activation, and a carrying handle allows for easy repositioning.
Integrated within the protective shield is an RF GFS 2 XL wireless transmitter, safeguarded against mechanical impact, while ensuring signal reliability to the receiver unit's antenna.
The sWave wireless technology utilised enables communication over distances up to 45 metres indoors, even in challenging industrial environments. The RF GFS 2 XL switch, notable for being among the first to incorporate this SW2.4LE-IND wireless technology in serial production, enhances operational flexibility.
Available in the standard range
This newly designed wireless foot switch originated as a custom solution for a manufacturer of welded structures.
After successful testing and application, it now joins steute's standard lineup of wireless switching devices, extending its benefits to a broader user base.
The steute business division - Controltec has expanded its range of wireless foot switches to include a variant developed specifically for heavy-duty applications such as welding stations.
In such applications, wireless foot switches really make sense because the lifetime of cabled foot switches can be limited due to weld spatter damaging the cables. And during normal work processes, the cables can also be a tripping hazard.
Robust and extremely enlarged protective shield
Conventional foot switches are not suitable here, however, because their protective shields are not large enough for the reinforced safety shoes worn by many operators, who still need to be able to actuate the pedals freely.
Especially for heavy-duty applications similar to these, steute has now engineered a robust and extremely enlarged protective shield from powder-coated steel.
Wireless foot switch
The shield is fixed to the wireless foot switch and provides enough space to operate both pedals even when wearing reinforced safety shoes as protection against weld spatter.
The protective shield also guards against any unintentional actuation of the pedals. A carrying handle facilitates flexible positioning of the foot switch.
sWave wireless technology
An RF GFS 2 XL wireless transmitter has been integrated in the protective shield – well protected from mechanical impact and so that its signals can reliably reach the antenna of the corresponding receiver unit.
The sWave wireless technology used facilitates ranges of up to 45 metres indoors, even in adverse industrial conditions. The RF GFS 2 XL is one of the first switches to be equipped with this wireless technology – SW2.4LE-IND – in serial production.
New wireless foot switch
This new wireless foot switch was originally developed as a customised project for a company producing welded structures.
Having been successfully tried and tested in that application, it is now available within the steute standard range of wireless switching devices.
